Semester/Year: Fall 2015 CASPER COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS Intermediate Sign Language ASL 1220 Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: 0 Credit Hours: 4 Class Time: 5:30-7:30pm Days: Tues/Thurs. Room: LH 284 Instructor s Name: Maria Nolan; M.Ed., NBCT, M.Sped, ASLTA-Provisional Instructor's Contact Information: 262-8743 Office Phone: N/A Email: mnolan@caspercollege.edu Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday (Before or after class or by appointment) Course Description: This course will provide intermediate level instruction in American Sign Language, fingerspelling, deafness and deaf culture. Emphasis will be on developing receptive and expressive language skills within the parameters of sign language. Intermediate vocabulary instruction and ASL grammar will be taught and reinforced through classroom presentations and activities, cultural models and visual media presentations. Discussions will focus on deafness, deaf history, current trends and related topics. Students will demonstrate fluency, rate and accuracy, ASL grammar and skills in receptively decoding sign language. Topics in the area of deafness and deaf culture will also be studied. Statement of Prerequisites: Success in ASL 1200 or ASL 1 Goal: To develop proficiency in the reception, analysis, evaluation and interpretation of information and information sources; develop a deep understanding of cultural, historical traditions within the Deaf community. Casper College General Education Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication 4. Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures and historical perspectives Units Covered: Unit 13: More ways to express yourself Unit 14: Experiences and Current Activity Unit 15: Future plans and Obligations Unit 16: Directions and Instructions Unit 17: Suggestions and Advice Unit 18: Attitudes and Opinions Unit 19: Recreational Activities Unit 20: Travel-places and Experiences Unit 21: Occupations and Professions Unit 22: The Body, Health and Emergencies Unit 23: Current Events Unit 24: How things get done Page 1 of 6
Course Objectives: 1. Communication-Communicate in Languages other than English 1.1: Conversations, provide and obtain information, feelings and emotions and opinions 1.2: Understand and interpret language on a variety of topics 1.3: Present information, concepts and ideas on a variety of topics 2. Cultures- Gain knowledge and understanding of Other Cultures 2.1: Demonstrate understanding of relationship between the practices and perspectives 2.2: Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives 3. Connections-Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information 3.1: Reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language 3.2: Acquire information and recognize viewpoints through the foreign language and its cultures 4. Comparisons-Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture 4.1: Demonstrate Understanding Nature of Language through comparisons of Language studied and their own 4.2: Demonstrate Understanding Concept of Culture through comparisons of Culture studied and their own 5. Communities-Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home and Around the World 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting 5.2: Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment Methodology: We will focus on introducing language in context and reinforcing skills by engaging you in a variety of interactive activities. You will need to be an active learner and come prepared to sign with me and other students in the class. You will be immersed in ASL 4 hours a week. Enjoy! Students will learn to expressively and receptively fingerspell, produce individual signs, phrases using correct grammar through teaching models, demonstrations, cultural interactions, structured activities as well as group work. Work will be evaluated through written, receptive tests, group feedback and observations. Evaluation Criteria: 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, 59 and below = F Class participation/attendance 30% Assignments 20% Quizzes 20% Midterm 15% Final Exam 15% Page 2 of 6
Required Text, Readings, and Materials: Learning American Sign Language 2 nd Edition with DVD by Tom Humphries, Carol Padden A Loss for Words by Lou Ann Walker www.asl.ms (Fingerspelling practice) www.aslpro.com (visual ASL dictionary) MOODLE: You will be expected to view this class on MOODLE to access course information such as syllabus, topics covered, discussions, and quizzes and to view your grades. Please check MOODLE often. You will be given time in class to learn how to access. Class Policies: Last Date to Change to Audit Status or to Withdraw with a W Grade: November 12, 2015 **OUTSIDE COMMUNITY Experiences: You will be asked to attend a minimal of 4 outside activities. You have the opportunity to go to DEAF Bowling 1x per month, DEAF Coffee or DEAF Ice cream socials 1x per month. You should have 8 or 9 opportunities. This will count as one of your assignments. YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO USE SIGN LANGUAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF DEAF PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. Homework/Assignments: You will be expected to complete daily classwork in your student workbook. This will reinforce skills, vocabulary learned during class and will ensure your success in this course. Homework will count as assignments. You will be given a variety of assignments regarding Deaf Culture and ASL. A Loss for Words book readings and discussions will count as homework/assignments. Late assignments will not be accepted! Make-up Policy: This policy refers to quizzes and exams only. You will be expected to refer to the class schedule in the syllabus and/or MOODLE to know what you are missing if you are absent. NO MAKEUP points will be given towards participation during an absence. Please see me prior to class if you know in advance of an absence. Attendance Policy: This course is a 4 credit or 4 hour course. If you miss one night of class, you have missed 50% of the weekly work. You will drop a letter grade if you miss TWO CLASSES. Your attendance applies to class participation grade category and points will be deducted (excused from athletics or doctor note will be handled with the instructor privately). No-Talking policy: It is considered rude to talk in front of a Deaf person. This class will be an ASL-signed environment. This will allow total immersion of the language you are learning and help you develop your comprehension and your expressive skills quickly and effectively. Talking can disrupt this process and may delay your language development. *We are fortunate to have many members of the Deaf community come visit our class. It is IMPORTANT for you to remember to SIGN IN FRONT OF THEM (even if you are talking to a classmate) **if another students asks you a question please use the signs you have learned or write back/forth to converse. Page 3 of 6
Cell phone/personal Computer Use: All cell phones must be turned off and must remain in backpacks or purses etc during class time. Their maybe times to use your devices as the class progresses but only at instructor s discretion. Student Rights and Responsibilities: Please refer to the Casper College Student Conduct and Judicial Code for information concerning your rights and responsibilities as a Casper College Student. Chain of Command: If you have any problems with this class, you should first contact the instructor to attempt to solve the problem. If you are not satisfied with the solution offered by the instructor, you should then take the matter through the appropriate chain of command starting with the Department Head/Program Director, the Dean, and lastly the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Academic Dishonesty: (Cheating & Plagiarism) Casper College demands intellectual honesty. Proven plagiarism or any form of dishonesty associated with the academic process can result in the offender failing the course in which the offense was committed or expulsion from school. See the Casper College Student Code of Conduct for more information on this topic. Official Means of Communication: Casper College faculty and staff will employ the student's assigned Casper College email account as a primary method of communication. Students are responsible to check their account regularly. This is also, where you will find course evaluation links during course evaluation periods. ADA Accommodations Policy: If you need academic accommodations because of a disability, please inform me as soon as possible. See me privately after class, or during my office hours. To request academic accommodations, students must first consult with the college s Disability Services Counselor located in the Gateway Building, Room 344, (307) 268-2557, bheuer@caspercollege.edu. The Disability Services Counselor is responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting accommodations, determining eligibility for accommodations, and helping students request and use appropriate accommodations. Page 4 of 6
Sign Language Transferability to the University of Wyoming: A&S departments/degrees that will not allow sign language to meet the foreign language requirement: English History International Studies Modern and Classical Languages A&S departments/degrees that will allow sign language to meet the foreign language requirement: African American Studies American Indian Studies American Studies Anthropology Art Astronomy and Astrophysics Biology Botany Chemistry Chicano Studies Communication and Journalism Criminal Justice Geography Geology Mathematics Music Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Sociology Statistics Theatre and Dance Women s Studies Zoology and Physiology *Students will need to check with out of state colleges to ascertain transferability to those institutions. Page 5 of 6
Calendar or schedule indicating course content: Week Date Tuesday Thursday 1 August 25, 27 Welcome back! Skills Review Units 1-12 Unit 13 More Ways to Express yourself 2 September 1, 3 Unit 13 Unit 14 Experiences and Current Activity 3 September 8, 10 Unit 14 Unit 15 Future Plans and Obligations (Q#1) 4 September 15, 17 Unit 15 Unit 16 Directions and Instructions 5 September 22, 25 Unit 16 Unit 17 Suggestions and Advice (Q#2) 6 Sept 29, Unit 17 Unit 18 Attitudes and Opinions Oct. 1 7 October Unit 18 (Q#3) Midterm Prep 6, 8 8 October Midterm Exam Midterm Exam 13, 15 9 October Fall Break Unit 19 Recreational Activities 20, 22 10 October 27, 29 Unit 19 Unit 20 Travel-Places and experiences 11 November 3, 5 Unit 20 Unit 21 Occupations and professions (Q#4) 12 November 10, 11 Unit 21 Unit 22 The Body, Health and Emergencies 13 November Movie love is never silent Unit 22 17, 19 14 November (Q#5) Thanksgiving Break 24, 26 Unit 23 Current Events 15 December Unit 24 How Things Get Unit 24 (Q#6) 1, 3 done 16 December 8, 10 Final Exam Silent Dinner or Game Night 17 December 15, 17 Storytelling Cultural Projects Storytelling Cultural Projects Page 6 of 6